Cash value accumulator



l ll 3,526,236

ABSTRACT: Currency counting apparatus including a pair of independentlyrotatable shafts mounted in axial alignment with first ends thereofbeing adjacent, and each including a pair of gear elements rotatablymounted thereon. Each pair of gear elements is in meshing engagementwith a pinion fixedly mounted to a respective shaft. Gear membersmounted at the first ends of each of the shafts are in meshingengagement with pinions attached at the inner perimeter of a ring gearmember. The ring gear member is mounted between and is coaxial with thegear members, and is connected to a re inventor Fred H. OsborneWilliamsville, New York 709,628 March 1, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 1,1970 [73] Assignee The Wurlitzer Company Chicago, Illinois a corporationof Ohio United States Patent [21] Appl.No.

[22] Filed a 6D. tn Sy a eb d m h 6 .ED. hO k am e mm h r M8 e ee h 6.ma [E r m nk 02. m me mm the deposit of currency received in a cmechanism. The ring gear member const force imposed thereon. For eachdepo denomination of currency, a correspond permitted to rotate acorresponding predetermined number of degrees on a respective shaft. Therotation thereof allows a corresponding pinion to rotate noidarrangement and is stepped according to the deposit of the ring gearmember is provided to kee an a m ms ..1.. m w o w A s. e e n m .m m m mE e M a m C m E 5 7 3 0mm mm SNWW 334 39 i 339 ili .M 111 0 n 3% G M\mixhi 5 u 9 S "m .6 MM T m m 9" W m M "l 0 d T m m T 0 M L n A m a m sm n S a MB g n U wE n Te m r m Mg m m m m H Um m .T ma v,w C .N 6 1 Cw me M Am m m REDJN mm a m n17? 4m I. f N346 T L s .3 999 r 1 S mme 1111 wV m a B WWW i m n.m d mm l 0 mm 3mm mm D: Cl UIF 7 5 5 W l 1]] 933 am 1924 m0 4 210 6 nn Kw HUB. U 23 PA Patented Sept. 1, 1970 Sheet ,a arvzePatented Sept. 1, 1970 3,526,236

K 58 T 70 T .74

Patented Sept. 1, 1970 3,526,236

7 .JZY/ W 1 65160 722 This invention relates generally to devices forcounting currency and more particularly to a counter for totaling theamount of cash received in coin or the like operated devices.

Various types of coin counters are now in use for totaling the amount ofcash taken into coin operated devices, such as, for example, coinoperated phonographs, commonly called juke boxes." (Note that there arenow mechanisms available for accepting dollar bills, and these arecontemplated under thefollowing discussion as but one more slot in acoin mechanism.) One such counter can be found in U.S. Pat. 3,333,769,by the inventor of the subject invention. While these counters aresatisfactory in most ways, they are not able successfully to registerthe entry of a pair or more of coins dropped into the phonograph coinreceiving mechanism simultaneously. The existing coin counters normallywill register the larger of the coins but will not simultaneouslyregister the smaller ones. The speed of operation of existing coincounters is limited and too-rapid insertion of coins can result inregistering less than the total value of all of the coins deposited.This causes discrepancies between the amount of cash registered and thatactually received in the coin receptacle of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of thisinvention to provide a new and improved, accurate currency counting orcash value accumulating apparatus.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a new andimproved currency counter, for use in coin operated phoriographs or thelike devices, which registers all coins dropped into the device, whetherthey are dropped separately, either slowly or in rapid succession, orsimultaneously.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the presentinvention and its organization and construction may be had by referringto the description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

- FIG. 1 is an over-all perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofacurrency counter or cash value accumulator according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the counter embodiment ofFIG. 1, illustrating an alternative manner of connecting a countingmeter or register thereto; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portionof the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along the line 3-3 thereof; FIG. 4 isan axial sectional view of the counting mechanism of the counterembodiment of FIG. 1, taken along the line 4,4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the counting mechanism of the counterembodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the countingmechanism of FIG. 4, taken along the line 66 thereof; FIG. 7 is across-sectional view of the counting mechanism of FIG. 4, taken alongthe line 7-7 thereof; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the countingmechanism Y of FIG. 4, taken along the line 8-8 thereof; "FIG. 9 is across-sectional view of the counting mechanism of FIG. 4, taken alongthe line 9-9 thereof; I FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view ofthe countingmechanism of FIG. 4. taken along the line l0l0 thereof; FIG. 11 is across-sectional view of the counting mechanism of FIG. 4, taken alongthe line 1 I-1 I thereof; FIG 12 is a side-sectional view of the rewindmechanism of the counter embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. l3is an axialsectional view of the winding mechanism of FIG. 12, taken along the line13-13 thereof; FIG,v 14 is a cross-sectional view of the windingmechanism of FIG. 12, taken along the line l4l4 thereof; FIG. 15 is across-sectional view of the winding mechanism ofFlG. l2, taken alongtheline 15-15 thereof; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit for a cash valueaccumulator according to the invention, which includes means forenabling the counting by the accumulator of currency other than coins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings more in detail, apreferred embodiment of a currency counter 20 is shown in FIG. 1thereof. The counter 20 as shown in FIG. 1 includes two major portions,the first being the counting mechanism 22 and the second being the driveor winding mechanism 24. The counting mechanism 22 of the counter 20, ascan be seen in FIG. 1, includes four vertical support members 26, 28, 30and 32, a first pair 26 and 28 of which has mounted in alignedapertures, such as 34, therein a rotatable half-shaft 36. The secondsupport member pair 30 and 32, likewise supports in aligned aperturestherein a rotatable half-shaft 38. The two half-shafts, as can be seenin FIG. 4, are in axial alignment with each other with the inwardlyfacing ends 40 and 42, respectively, thereof being adjacent one another.Radially disposed stub shaftsor mounting members 44 and 46 are fixed onhalf-shafts 36 and 38, respectively, between supports 26, 28 and 30, 32by means such as set screws 48 and 50. Pins 52 and 54 extend from theends of stub shafts 44 and 46 radially of half-shafts 36 and 38, andpinions 56 and 58 are rotatably mounted thereon, being held by meanssuch as washers and retaining rings or C- washers, as shown.

Mounted on each of the half-shafts 36 and 38, on either side ofrespective pinions 56 and 58 so as to mesh therewith, are pairs of bevelgears 62 and 64, and 66 and 68, respectively. The manner of mountingthese gears is illustrated clearly in FIGS. 4 and 7 wherein gear 64 canbe seen on half-shafts-36, with pinion 56 mounted on stub shaft 46 andengaging the teeth of the gear. As will be noted in FIG. 4, the bevelgears are not fixed to the respective half-shafts, but are mounted so asto be able to rotate thereon independently of the rotationof thehalf-shaft. Each of the bevel gears 62, 64, 66 and 68 in cludes,extending outwardly from the flat surface opposite the teeth portionthereof and near the outer perimeter, a number of pins or pegs 70. Thepegs are angularly spaced about the respective gears and are adapted tobe engaged by pawls 72 (FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 8 and 11), one of which isassociated with each of the bevel gears and which is pivotally mountedon a respective one of the support members 26, 28, 30 and 32. Each ofthe pawls is connected to a spring 74 which causes the pawl normally toengage one of the pegs 70 of the associated gear. Solenoids 60 areconnected respectively to the pawls to withdraw them against the forceof springs 74. (In the drawings the pegs are shown as fixed in platessecured to the back surfaces of the gears. It is contemplated that inproduction the gears and plates, and perhaps also the pegs, would beformed integrally, such as by a plastic molding operation.)

Referring to FIGS. 6, and 8 through 10, there are shown therein,respectively, each of the gears 62, 64, 66 and 68, and the respectivesprings 74 and pawls 72 engaging the pegs 70 mounted thereon. Each ofthe pawls 72 includes a pair of arms 73 and 75, and each arm includes atooth 77 and 79, respectively. The tooth 79 of arm 75 normally engagesone of the peg members 70 of the particular gear, as shown in FIGS. 8,l0 and 11, and is held in engagement therewith by meansof spring 74. Theother tooth 77 acts as an overthrow stop, as indicated in FIG. 6, sothat the gear element is able only to turn the distance betweenconsecutive pegs in one operation. Arm 75 of the pawl is connected tosolenoid 60 via pull rod 81. The denomination of the currency with whichthe gear elementis to be associated determines the number of pegs 70included on a gear. For example, gear 62 includes ten equally arcuatelyspaced pegs 70; thus, the currency which it counts, in the em bodimentshown herein, is five cent pieces, moving one peg for each five centpiece received; correspondingly, gear 64 has five pegs and correspondsto ten cent pieces, while gear 66 has two pegs and corresponds totwenty-five cent pieces; and gear element 68 includes only one peg,thus, counting fifty cent pieces, turning one-half revolution each timea half dollar is received. While devices such as coin operatedphonographs normally receive only coins, the currency counter accordingto the invention will also count dollar bills which may be receivedthereby. This will be explained hereinafter in referring to FIG. 16 ofthe drawings.

At the free ends 40 and 42 of the half-shafts 36 and 38, between thecenter support members 28 and 30, there is mounted another pair of bevelgears 76 and 78, respectively. Each of the gears 76 and 78 is fixedlymounted to a respective half-shaft member by means of screws 80 and 82,respectively.

A ring gear 90 (FIGS. 1,4 and 9) having peripheral teeth is mountedcoaxially with the gear elements 76 and 78 by means of a pair of pinions84 and 86 mounted at the inner perimeter 88 of the ring gear and 180degrees apart. Pinions 84 and 86 are rotatably mounted by means ofradially inwardly directed pins 85 and 87, respectively, at the innerperimeter 88 of the ring gear 90, the pinions meshing with the gearelement 78. Pinions 84 and 86 are adapted to mesh with both of the bevelgears 76 and 78, so that ring gear 90 is rotatable about the half-shaftswith either or both of gears 76 and 78.

It will be noted that the gear elements used in the counter according tothe invention, are preferably constructed of a one-piece polymericmaterial such as nylon. This does not preclude, however, the use of gearelements which are not of a one-piece construction.

The drive or winding mechanism 24 of the currency counter 20 accordingto the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12, includes a rotatable shaft92. A hub 93 is free to rotate on this shaft and a gear 94 which mesheswith the ring gear 90 of the counting mechanism 22 ofthe counter 20 isfixed on the hub.

The gear 94 is in meshing engagement with still another gear 96 which isconnected through a shaft 98 to a register or meter 100 of known designfor totaling the amount of currency received in the device, such as acoin operated phonograph in which the counter 20 is used. The registeror meter 100 can be connected to counting mechanism 22 in a number ofways. An alternative manner in which this may be accomplished is shownin FIG. 2 of the drawings, and will be discussed hereinafter.

A plate 101 is likewise fixed to hub 93 and hence to gear 94. Acup-shaped housing 104 is mounted on a hub 108 and is fixed to a disc orplate 106 on the hub by means such as screws passing through the plateand threaded into the housing. Hub 108 is free to rotate on shaft 92.The housing is fixed to the plate 101 for rotation therewith by tabs 97which extend through openings 95 in the plate (see also FIG. 3).

A helically wound spring 102, best seen in FIGS. 12 and 14, is mountedwithin housing 104 with the inner end of the spring received in a slotin the shaft and held by means of a screw 103. The radially outwardlyextending end 105 of the spring is attached to the outer side wall 107of housing 104, here shown as being hooked through an aperture 119therein. A cam 110 (FIGS. 12 and 13) is struck out from or fixed to thesurface of plate 106 opposite housing portion 104, near the outerperimeter of the plate. The cam element 110 is engaged by one leg 11] ofan L-shaped cam follower lever 112 which extends through an opening 114in a second plate 116 mounted by means of a hub 118 thereof inspaced-apart relation from plate 106, on shaft member 92. Plate 116 isfixed for rotation with shaft 92. The other leg 113 of the L-shapedlever 112 includes an enlarged, curved or offset portion 115, seen inFIG.

15, having an aperture 117 through which shaft member 92 extends. Leg113 of lever 112 is pivotally mounted on plate 116 by complementary earsand a pivot pin 120 approximately I80 degrees from the aperture 114through plate 116. This pivo'tal connection and the passing of arm 111through aperture 114, lock lever 112 to plate 116 for rotationtherewith.

Adjacent L-shaped lever 112 at the point of mounting on the shaft member92, and separated by a washer 122, is a switch actuating lever 124having a curved or offset forked end 125 which straddles shaft 92. Atthe other end 127 of the lever 124 there is a buffer 126 which engagesone contact 128 of a switch having an opposed contact 130. The contacts128 and 130 are normally out of engagement, as shown in FIG. 12. Aspring 129 stretched between lever arm 127 and a fixed member biaseslever 124 in a clockwise direction. Spaced from lever 124 and fixedlymounted on shaft member 92 is a worm gear or wheel 132. The worm gear132 is mounted on shaft 92 by means of a screw or the like 33 extendingthrough a hub 134 thereof. A worm 136 meshes with worm gear 132 and isfixed on a shaft 138 extending from an electric motor 140.

As mentioned above, meter 100 may be connected to counting mechanism 22in a variety of ways. In FIG. 2 an alternative connection of the meteris suggested. Herein the meter 100 and its associated gear 96 and shaft98 are connected directly to worm gear 132 with gear 96 meshingtherewith. This manner of gearing in the meter 100 avoids any shockthereto which may occur with the respective gear elements 62, 64, 66 or68 being rotated in response to the receipt of currency in the device inwhich the counter 20 is placed.

For purposes of affording a more complete understanding of theinvention, it is advantageous now to provide a functional description ofthe mode in which the component parts thus far described cooperate.

Turning now to FIG. 16 of the drawings, there is shown therein aschematic diagram of a control circuit, for use in a coin operatedphonograph or juke box or the like device. Switches 170, 172, 174 and176 are respectively momentarily closed by the passage of five, ten,twenty-five and fifty cent pieces through the respective coin slots.Each switch operates a respective solenoid 60 of the counting device 20.Each of the switches is connected to a respective solenoid coil 171,173, 175 and 177, and all are connected to a power source represented bya battery 180. The dollar bill circuit component 178, shown here inblock form, is connected in parallel relation with the fifty cent switch176, so that when a dollar bill is deposited in the currency receptacleadapted for receipt thereof in the phonograph, two pulses on the fiftycent solenoid 177 will occur, thus operating appropriate solenoid 60 twotimes, stepping the gear element 68 of counter 20 twice so as tocorrespond to the dollar value. Other paper bill values may beaccommodated also if desired in a manner similar to that discussed.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, and as mentioned heretofore, a solenoid 60 isassociated with each of the pawls 72 of the counting mechanism 22. Eachof the solenoids is connected to an actuating switch 170, 172, 174 or176 associated with a particular coin receiving mechanism or receptacle.Upon the receipt in any one of the coin receptacles of a coin of acorresponding denomination, a respective actuating switch is operated.The operation of the switch in turn momentarily actuates the appropriatesolenoid 60. The operation of the solenoid moves arm 81 thereof towardthe solenoid housing and in turn moves arm 75 of the pawl 72, as shownin FIGS. 6, 8, 10 and 11, in a counterclockwise direction to releasetooth 79 from the peg 70 it had been holding, so that the correspondinggear may be turned as shown in the last mentioned figures, in thedirection of respective arrows 145, 147, 149 and 151.

As an illustrative example, it may be assumed that receipt of a fivecent piece has freed gear 62 to rotate by the rocking of pawl 72. Tooth77 of arm 73 of the pawl limits gear element 62 to movement less thanthe distance between consecutive pegs until the corresponding solenoidreleases and spring 74 returns pawl 73 to its rest position, thusallowing completion of rotation of gear 62 the arcuate distance betweensuccessive pegs.

The movement of the gear 62 about half-shaft 36 is effected by theturning force on ring gear transmitted through pinions 84, 86 and gear76 to half-shaft 36 and hence to pinion 56 meshing.

The rotation of ring gear 90, as can be seen in FIG. 1, allows gear 94to turn in the direction of arrow 155 under the force of spring 102, andit in turn rotates gear 96 in the direction of arrow 157 to step theregister ahead, thereby to record the deposit made in the coin operatedphonograph. A similar operation takes place with the appropriate gears,etc., being involved, when a coin of a different denomination enters theappropriate coin receptacle of the device.

It is essential to the operation of the counting mechanism 22 that adriving force be provided for gear elements 62, 64, 66 and 68 when theyare released by a corresponding pawl, to rotate as described above. Thisdriving force is provided in the currency counter embodiment shownherein, by the rewinding mechanism 24, shown in FIGS. 1 and 12. Therewind mechanism is a simple, efficient mechanism and is preferable overother driving force devices. However, the driving force could beprovided by other suitable means, if desired.

Looking more closely at winding mechanism 24, it will be seen that gear94, hub 93, plate 101, housing 104, and plate 106 on hub 108, are freeto rotate on shaft 92. Rotation of these last-mentioned components iseffected by helically wound spring 102 within housing portion 104. it isthe tension provided by spring 102 which is used as the driving force topower the counting mechanism 22.

Each time a coin is received in the coin operated phonograph device andone of the gears is turned, the spring 102 partially unwinds. If thespring were allowed to unwind completely, the counting mechanism wouldbecome inoperable. Thus, this spring 102 is provided with a mechanismwhich operates to rewind the spring 102 once it is unwound apredetermined amount.

As-shown in FIG. 12, leg 111 of lever 112 is in engagement with cam 110mounted on plate 106. When the spring 102 reachesthe above-mentionedpredetermined unwound point, which occurs when gear 94 is moved a fewdegrees in the direction of arrow 155 and therefore every time currencyis received, leg 111 will become disengaged from cam 110 and drop awaytherefrom. This can be seen clearly in FIG. 13 of the drawings. Thelever 112 is now free to move along shaft 92 toward the housing 104.This in turn causes movement of lever 124 in a clockwise direction underthe influence of spring 129 so that buffer 126 at the other end thereofmoves contact 128 into engagement with contact 130. The contact pair128; 130 serves to complete a circuit (not shown) to operate motor 140,and, inturn, through gear member 132 rotating in the direction of arrow163, causes the shaft 92 to be rotated accordingly, rewinding helicalspring 102, restoring leg l11.into engagement with cam element 110,opening contact pair 128 and 130, and replacing lever 124 at its normalposition on shaft 92.

Each time currency is received in a receptacle in the coin operatedphonograph, the above sequence of events takes place to step theregister 100 so that it can in turn total the amount of money receivedin the phonograph over a period of time.

The currency counter according to the invention is so constructed thateven if currency of different denominations is dropped into the coinreceptacles simultaneously, the counter will function to count and totalboth the coins. Therefore, if a ten cent piece and a twenty-five centpiece were dropped simultaneously into corresponding currencyreceptacles, respective solenoids would be actuated to permit steppingof the respective gears, in this case 66. corresponding to thetwenty-five cent piece, and 64 corresponding to the ten cent piece, toallow rotation of ring gear 90 and thus to register the total sum onregister 100.

Thus, the currency counter 20 according to the invention provides anefficient. reliable means of correctly totaling the amount of currencyreceived over a predetermined period of time in various types of vendingor the like machines. All parts always move in the same direction, hencespeeding operation and reducing noise and wear. A coin operatedphonograph has been used as a preferred example of the type of devicewith which the currency counter 20 may be used. It is to be understood,however, that the counter according to the invention may be usedsatisfactorily with other vending, etc., types of devices.

Each pair of gears and meshing pinion, as 62, 64 and 56 will berecognized as a differential gear set. it will be understood thatdifferential gear sets with different types of teeth could be used, or afriction gear drive could be substituted for the toothed gear drive withsome possible loss of accuracy that might creep in through slippage. Inany event, in the ensuing claims it is to be understood that the termgear includes friction as well as toothed drives.

it is important that a continuous impositive driving force is applied tothe ring gear and that it be capable of producing an indefinite numberof revolutions. The spring motor shown with the electric motor windingthe spring is one effective way of achieving this end, but it will beunderstood that other means could be used. For example, a spring couldbe wound with a solenoid and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, or a pneumaticmotor could be substituted for the spring motor.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it is tobe understood, of course, that the invention is not limited theretosince many modifications may be made.

lclaim:

1. Currency counting apparatus comprising: support means, rotatableshaft means mounted on said support means, a register and meansconnecting said rotatable shaft means to said register for driving saidregister in response to the rotation of said shaft means, said meansincluding a plurality of gear elements mounted for rotation on saidshaft means, each of said gear elements corresponding to a differentvalue of currency deposited in a currency receiving mechanism, connected,to said apparatus, means providing for the rotation of each said gearelement on said shaft means a respective, predetermined number ofdegrees for each deposit in said receiving mechanism of currency of acorresponding value, means coupling said gear elements with said shaftmeans for effecting rotation of said shaft means a corresponding numberof degrees in response to the rotation of said gear elements on thelatter, said coupling means includes at least one pinion rotatablymounted on a transverse shaft fixed on and extending radially outwardlyfrom said shaft means, said one pinion being in meshing engagement withat least one of said gear elements so that upon the rotation of said onegear element, said pinion, in response thereto, causes a correspondingrotation of said shaft means, and further including at least one gearmember fixedly mounted on said rotatable shaft means so as to berotatable therewith, and a ring gear member having a plurality ofpinions mounted at the inner perimeter thereof and extending inwardlytoward the center of the ring gear member, said ring gear member beingmounted coaxiaily with said one gear member with said pinions of saidring gear member meshing with said gear member, so that upon rotation ofsaid shaft means, said gear member is likewise rotated, causing, throughsaid pinions, a corresponding rotation of said ring gear member.

2. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidregister includes a rotatable shaft and a gear connected thereto, andwherein said gear of said register is in meshing engagement with saidregister member, whereby upon the rotation of said ring gear member,said register, through said gear and shaft, is operated to total theamountof currency deposited in said receiving mechanism.

3. Currency counting apparatus comprising: support means, rotatableshaft means mounted on said support means, a register and meansconnecting said rotatable shaft means to said register for driving saidregister in response to the rotation of said shaft means, said meansincluding a plurality of gear elements mounted for rotation on saidshaft means, each of said gearelements corresponding to a differentvalue of currency deposited in a currency receiving mechanism connected.to said apparatus, means providing for the rotation of each said gearelement on said shaft means a respective, predetermined number ofdegrees for each deposit in said receiving mechanism of currency of acorresponding value, means coupling said gear elements with said shaftmeans for effecting rotation of said shaft means a corresponding numberof degrees in response to the rotation of said gear elements on thelatter, said shaft means includes a pair of shafts, independentlymounted for rotation on said support means and being in axial alignment,with first ends being adjacent each other, wherein each said shaftincludes, mounted rotatably thereon, at least one pair of gear elements,each gear element representing a different denomination of currency, andat least one pinion rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft fixed on andextending outwardly from each of said pair of shafts and being inmeshing engagement with a respective pair of gear elements, so that uponthe rotation of one or both of said gear elements of one or both of saidpairs, a respective pinion is caused to rotate said corresponding shaftin response thereto.

4. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drivemeans includes a first and second gear member, said first gear memberbeing mounted at said first end of a first one of said pair of shaftsand said second gear member being mounted at said first end of thesecond one of said pair of shafts, each said gear member being rotatablewith a corresponding shaft, and a ring gear member including a pluralityof pinions mounted at the inner perimeter thereof and extending inwardlytoward the center of the ring gear member, said ring gear member beingmounted coaxially with and between said first and second gear members,with said pinions being in meshing engagement with said gear members, sothat, upon the rotation of one of said shafts, a corresponding gearmember is rotated therewith, thereby through said pinions of said ringgear member to rotate said ring gear member correspondingly.

5. Currency counting apparatus comprising: support means rotatable shaftmeans mounted on said support means, a register and means connectingsaid rotatable shaft means to said register for driving said' registerin response to the rotation of said shaft means, said means including aplurality of gear elements mounted for rotation on said shaft means,each of said gear elements corresponding to a different value ofcurrency deposited in a currency receiving mechanism connected to saidapparatus, means providing for the rotation of eachsaid gear element onsaid shaft means a respective, predetermined number of degrees for eachdeposit in said receiving mechanism of currency of a correspondingvalue, and means coupling said gear elements with said shaft means foreffecting rotation of said shaft means a corresponding number of degreesin response to the rotation of said gear elements on the latter, each ofsaid gear elements including, extending outwardly from one surfacethereof, a predetermined number of pegs, corresponding to the value ofcurrency represented by said gear element, said pegs being angularlyspaced at the outside perimeter of each of said gear elements, andwherein said apparatus further includes a plurality of pawls, foroperating each said gear element, and being pivotally mounted on saidsupport means, each said pawl including a spring, a first end of saidspring being connected to said pawl and a second end being connected tosaid support means, each of said pawls, due to the tension of acorresponding spring, normally engaging one of said pegs of a respectivegear element, and pawl operating means connected to each said pawl foroperating said respective pawls against the tension of said spring uponthe depositing in said receiving mechanism ofa corresponding value ofcurrency, said pawl upon the operation of a corresponding operatingmeans, releasing said one peg to allow the corresponding gear element torotate the distance between pegs, whereby said pawl is moved back to anormal position by said spring to reengage the next consecutive one ofsaid pegs.

6. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each ofsaid pawls includes a first and second arm being rigidly interconnectedat first ends thereof, the second, free ends of said arms each includinga tooth member extending therefrom, wherein a corresponding pawl springis connected at a first end thereof to said second arm of a respectivepawl, causing the tooth member of said second arm to engage one of saidpegs ofa respective gear element and wherein said operating meansincludes a solenoid having a movable arm portion connected to saidsecond arm of said pawl, said solenoid being operable against thetension of said pawl spring in response to the depositing of acorresponding value of currency in said currency receiving mechanism,said tooth member of said first arm of said pawl engaging a second oneof said pegs of a respective gear element upon the operation of saidsolenoid to prevent over rotation of said gear element.

7. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and furtherincluding a first, second, third and fourth gear element, said firstgear element representing five cent pieces, having ten pegs and rotatingthe distance between consecutive pegs for each five cent piece receivedin said receiving mechanism, said second gear element representing tencent pieces, having five pegs and rotating the distance betweenconsecutive pegs for each ten cent piece received in said receivingmechanism, said third gear element representing twenty-five cent pieces,having two pegs and rotating the distance between consecutive pegs foreach twenty-five cent piece received in said receiving mechanism, andsaid fourth gear element representing fifty cent pieces, having one pegand rotating one revolution for each fifty cent piece received in saidreceiving mechanism.

8. Currency counting apparatus comprising: support means, rotatableshaft means mounted on said support means, a register and meansconnecting said rotatable shaft means to said register for driving saidregister in response to the rotation of said shaft means, said meansincluding a plurality of gear elements mounted for rotation on saidshaft means, each of said gear elements corresponding to a differentvalue of currency deposited in a currency receiving mechanism connectedto said apparatus, means providing for the rotation of each said gearelement on said shaft means a respective, predetermined number ofdegrees for each deposit in said receiving mechanism of currency of acorresponding value, and means coupling said gear elements with saidshaft means for effecting rotation of said shaft means a correspondingnumber of degrees in response to the rotation of said gear elements onthe latter, and means connected to said drive means for providing tosaid counter a driving force, said driving force means beingself-restoring, thereby to continuously cause said counter to beoperable.

9. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and furtherincluding a winding mechanism, said winding mechanism including arotatable shaft member having mounted thereon a gear'member, said gearmember being in meshing engagement with said ring gear member, springmeans mounted on said shaft member and providing a driving force to saidring gear member, and motor means connected to said shaft member,whereby upon the rotation of said ring gear member in response to thedeposit of currency in said receiving mechanism, said spring means ispartially unwound, said motor means, through said shaft member, beingoperable to rewind said spring means.

10. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein saidspring means includes a helical spring mounted at one end to said shaftmember and a spring housing mounted for rotation about said shaftmember, the other end of said spring being connected to said housing,and wherein said rewinding mechanism further includes a cam membermounted on said housing, an L-shaped cam follower mounted at one leg tosaid shaft member and the second leg thereof engaging said cam member,and contact means connected to said shaft member adjacent said one legof said L-shaped cam follower, said contact means operable to actuatesaid motor means, and being normally in an open condition, whereby, uponthe rotation of said gear member in response to said ring gear memberbeing rotated, said shaft member in turn is rotated causing, throughsaid helical spring member, a rotation of said housing in a directioncausing said spring member to unwind so that said second leg of saidstrip is dislodged from said cam member, and said contact means inresponse thereto is actuated to operate said motor means, thereby toturn said shaft member, rewinding said spring and restoring said cammember of said housing and said second leg of said cam follower toreengage.

11. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein, upon thereceipt in said currency receiving mechanism of a one dollar deposit,said currency control causes said solenoid associated with said fiftycent gear element to be rotated twice the distance rotated upon thereceipt of a fifty cent piece.

12. Currency counting apparatus comprising: support means, a first andsecond shaft, each being independently mounted for rotation on saidsupport means, said shafts being in axial alignment with first endsthereof being adjacent each other, each shaft including a first andsecond gear element rotatably mounted thereon, the first and second gearelement of said first shaft representing a five and ten cent piece,respectively, and the first and second gear element of said second shaftrepresenting a twenty-five and fifty cent piece, respectively, a pinionrotatably mounted on a transverse shaft fixed on and extending radiallyoutwardly from between and in meshing engagement with said first andsecond gear elements of a corresponding shaft, a first gear memberfixedly mounted on the first end of said first shaft for rotationtherewith and a second gear member fixedly mounted on the first end ofsaid second shaft for rotation therewith, a ring gear member includingat least one pinion mounted at the inner perimeter thereof and extendinginwardly toward the center of the ring gear member, said ring gearmember being mounted coaxially with and between said first and secondgear members with the pinions thereof meshing with said first and secondgear members, and a summing register coupled to said ring gear member,whereby upon the deposit of currency in a receiving mechanism connectedto said apparatus, a gear element corresponding to the denomination ofsaid deposited currency is rotated a predetermined number of degrees ona respective shaft so that the corresponding pinion, fixedly mounted onsaid shaft, rotates said shaft in response thereto, in turn rotating arespective gear member, thereby to rotate said ring gear member, tooperate said summing register.

13. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein each ofsaid gear elements includes a predetermined number of pegs beingangularly spaced about said gear element and extending outwardlytherefrom and corresponding to the denomination of currency representedby said gear element and wherein said counting apparatus furtherincludes a plurality of pawls, each one of which is adapted foroperation with a respective gear element and which is pivotally mountedon said support means and normally engaging one of said pegs of arespective gear element, and a plurality of solenoids, one of which isconnected to each of said pawls, whereby upon the deposit of adenomination of currency in said receiving mechanism, a correspondingone of said solenoids is actuated to operate a respective pawl, therebyto release said one peg, allowing said gear element to rotate on acorresponding shaft the distance between said one peg and the onefollowing thereafter, in the direction of rotation of said gear element.

14. Currency counting apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidapparatus further includes a control circuit for operating saidsolenoids, said control circuit including means responsive to thereceipt in said receiving mechanism of a one dollar deposit to operatetwice in succession the solenoid operating said fifty cent piece gearelement, thereby to rotate said fifty cent piece gear elementcorrespondingly, to in turn record said deposit on said summingregister.

15. Currency counting apparatus comprising: base means; a shaftrotatably supported from said base means; means constantly tending toturn said shaft; and escapement means for said shaft; said escapementmeans including a differential gear set having a pair of gears mountedcoaxially about said shaft and free to turn relative thereto andrelative to one another and a pinion meshing with said gears androtatable about an axis transverse of said shaft, said axis being fixedfor turning with said shaft, a first plurality of protuberances on oneof said gears inequal arcuate spaced relation thereon and eachcorresponding to a first unit of money, a second and different pluralityof protuberances on the second of said gears in equal arcuate spacedrelation and corresponding to a second unit of money, a first releasablestop sequentially engageable with said first protuberances, means forreleasing said first stop upon receipt of a first unit of money in aconnected mechanism, a second releasable stop sequentially engageablewith said second protuberances, means for releasing said second stopupon receipt of a second unit of money, such release of said first andsecond stops permitting said shaft to turn predetermined correspondingincrements; a register; and means connecting said register to said shaftfor rotation therewith.

16. Currency counting apparatus according to claim 15 and furtherincluding: a second shaft coaxial with said first shaft in end-to-endrelation thereto; a second differential gear set similar to the onerecited having third and fourth gears respectively with a third and afourth plurality of protuberances thereon corresponding to third andfourth units of money; the shaft turning means comprising a thirddifferential gear set having a pair of gears respectively fixed on saidshafts and a pinion meshing with said last-mentioned pair of gears, andmeans tending to orbit said pinion about said shafts.

17. Currency counting apparatus according to claim 16 and wherein saidshaft turning means further includes a ring concentric with said shaftsand carrying said pinion, and impositive means tending to turn saidring.

